Ladder fittings



Lung M- H. J. OUELLETTE 3,027,968

LADDER FITTINGS April 3, 1962 Filed Feb. 8, 1960 INVENTOR ATTO limited States Patent ()filice 3,027,968 Patented Apr. 3, 1962 3,027,968 LADDER FITTINGS Hector J. Ouellette, 60 Highway 20, Stoney Creek, On-

tario, Canada, assignor of one-half to Stephen J. Peconi, Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada Filed Feb. 8, 1960, Ser. No. 7,398 1 Claim. (Cl. 182201) This invention relates to supports and more particularly to ladder brackets.

An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved bracket for attachment to a ladder so that elements carried by the bracket enable the ladder to be disposed in several desired positions which otherwise would not be possible.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved means for attaching an adjustable member to the leg of a ladder so that the ladder can be quickly and easily arranged in a number of desired positions with mini mum effort.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved ladder bracket of the character mentioned, which is simple in construction, and reliable and exact in function under all conditions of service.

The invention also comprises certain new and useful improvements in the construction, arrangement and combination of the several parts of, which it is composed, as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of a ladder bracket constructed according to the present invention, one leg of a conventional ladder being shown by broken lines'associated therewith;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken along the line 33 of FIG. 1, showing the auxiliary bar by broken lines in several adjusted positions;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the reverse side of the bracket showing the member for engaging and holding a leg of a ladder;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal section taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a horizontal section taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 4.

Referring to the drawing, the new and improved ladder bracket 10 of the present invention may comprise a pair of metal plates 11 and 12 formed in the manner to be hereinafter more fully described into a hollow elongated main member having a plurality of elements by which the bracket can be attached to a ladder so as to enable the ladder to be disposed in several desired positions which otherwise would not be possible.

The plate 11 comprises an elongated rectangular main body having a top edge 14, side edges 15 and 16, and a bottom edge 17.

Extending outwardly a suitable distance from the upper portion of the side edge 15 and disposed in substantially the same plane as the plane of the main body of the plate 11, is an arm 18.

The outer portion of the arm 18 is bent at right angles to provide an extension 19 which projects from said arm in the direction away from the plate 11 as shown in FIG. 1.

A hole 20 of suitable area is formed in the arm 18 for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully described.

Fixedly mounted in a hole 21 in the extension 19 of the arm 18, is a plug 22 having a screw threaded bore for the threaded shank of a manually operable clamping screw element 23.

When the bracket that is alined with the hole 20 is used to form a scaffolding, one end of a bar (not shown) is inserted in the hole 20 and held secure in the bracket by the clamping screw 23.

flange 33 along its other side edge.

Projecting outwardly from the bottom edge 17 and arranged at right angles to the plate 11, is a flange 24. This flange 24 has a length greater than the width of the plate 11 so as to provide an extension 25 which projects outwardly from the side edge 15 an amount equal substantially to the distance the arm 18 extends outwardly from the upper portion of the plate.

It will be noted that the construction and arrangement of the parts is such that when the arm 18 of the bracket 10 is disposed in a substantially vertical plane, the flange 24 will be disposed in a substantially horizontal plane, as shown in FIG. 3.

Holes 27 and 28 are formed in the flange 24 and the extension 25 thereof respectively, for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully described.

A flange 30 is formed along the side edge 15 for the entire length of the plate 11. This flange 30 is arranged at right angles with the main body of the plate 11 and is parallel with the extension 19 of the arm 18, being spaced a suitable distance from said arm extension 19 in the manner shown in FIG. 5.

The plate 12 comprises an elongated rectangular main body having a flange 32 along one side edge, and a The flanges 32 and Y33 are arranged at right angles to the main body of the plate 12, with the flange 33 extending outwardly from said plate in a direction opposite to the direction in which the flange 33 extends from the plate.

The plate 12 is arranged in spaced parallel relation with the plate 11, with the'flan ge 32 in face to face con tact with the flange 30 and its flange 33 arranged along the side edge 16 of the plate 11.

The flanges 30 and 32 may be united together by welding and the flange 33 maybe united to the edge portion 16 of the plate 11 by means of welding.

At the upper portion of the plate 11 a flange 35 is formed along the side edge 16. The flange 35 is arranged at right angles to the plate 11 and projects outwardly therefrom in a direction opposite to the direction in which the extension 19 projects from the arm 18.

Formed in the flange 35 is a round hole 36 and an elongated hole 37.

With the adjacent portions of both plates 11 and 12 made integral by means of welding, the two parts of the bracket 10* will be in the form of a unitary structure, with the flange 35 arranged in alinement with the flange 33. Also, since the plate 12 is arranged in spaced relation with the plate 11, a rectangular pocket 39 will be provided in the bracket, as shown in FIG. 5.

A boss 40 protrudes through a hole 41 in the plate 11, and is held in place by means of a flanged inner end portion 42 on the boss which is arranged within the pocket 39, in the manner shown in FIG. 5. This construction allows the boss 40 to rotate, but it cannot be removed from the bracket.

An opening 44 is formed in the protruding portion of the boss 40, the axis of said opening being arranged at right angles with respect to the longitudinal center line of the boss. The construction and arrangement of the parts is such that when the axis of the opening 44 is vertically disposed with the bracket, said opening 44 will be in alinement with the hole 27 in the flange 24.

A bar 45 in the form of a suitable length of rod or pipe, is adapted to be mounted in the alined openings 27 and 44 and be retained in an adjusted position with the bracket 10 by means of a set screw or the like in the form of hand clamp 46.

The bar 45 constitutes an adjustable auxiliary leg for the device, and when it is mounted in the two openings 27 and 44 in the manner illustrated by full lines, FIG. 3, it will be arranged substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the bracket 10.

When the hand clamp 46 is unscrewed from the bar 45 and the lower end of said bar withdrawn from the hole 27, the boss 40 can be rotated in a direction to bring the bar 45 in alinement with the round hole 36 of the flange 35 so that the bar can be inserted in said hole 36. In changing the position of the bar 45 with the bracket 10, the boss it} will be rotated through an angle of 90 so that the bar 45 will be disposed at right angles with respect to the vertical longitudinal axis of the bracket, as indicated by the broken lines 45a in FIG. 3. In this position the device provides an anchor for a roof ladder.

Also, when in this position, the adjustable bar 45 may be removed and replaced by a longer pipe or rod (not shown) to form a lock for one end of the bar used to form ladders as scafiolding.

When the boss 40 is rotated to aline the opening 44 with the elongated hole 37 and the adjustable bar 45 is passed through the holes 37 and 44, as indicated by the broken lines 4512, FIG. 3, the device can be used for holding the ladder away from the wall supporting it.

For the purpose of fastening the bracket 19 to a leg of a ladder, a slot 48 is cut in the plate 12 and said slot extends across the flange 33 and into the plate 11 in the manner shown in 'FIG. 6.

A hole 49 is formed in the flange 30 in alinement with the slot 48 and midway between the plates 11 and 12. This allows an L-shaped stud 50 to pass through the hole 49 and slide back and forth in the slot 48.

A T-bar 51 has a hole in one side of the top of the T to allow the L-shaped stud S to pass through it.

The leg 52 of a ladder shown by dotted lines in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, and in section in FIG. .6, is placed against the plate 12 and the flange 32. Then the T-bar 51 is brought to bear on the other sides of the ladder leg 52 and is clamped firmly in place by tightening the wing nuts 53 and 54 on the L-shaped stud '50.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that the present invention provides a new and improved bracket for attachment to a ladder so that when desired, one leg of the ladder will be lengthened whereby the ladder can be disposed in a desired upright position on uneven ground or other uneven supporting surface. Also, by the provision of the means provided by the bracket for holding the bar 45, one leg of a ladder may be positioned on one step of a stairway while the other ladder leg is on another step. Furthermore, by arranging the bar 45 at an acute angle in the bracket 19 in the manner illustrated by the broken lines 45b, means are provided for holding the ladder away fromthe wall supporting it. It will also be understood that several ladders having bars 45 of desired lengths may be locked with the ladders to form scafiolding. In this connection, it will be noted that the hole 28 is alined with the hole 24? so as to accommodate a brace (not shown) to support a pipe or bar used for forming scaffolding, thus adding to the rigidity of the scafiolding. It will be understood that the bracket 19 may be constructed in both left hand and right hand.

While I have described the invention in great detail and with respect to the present preferred form thereof, it is not desired to be limited thereto since changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claim rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claim are therefore intended tobe embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

A bracket for attachment to the leg of a ladder, comprising a hollow, elongated main member, substantially rectangular shaped in cross section and having flanges extending from the sides thereof in opposite directions to form with the main member a substantial Z shape, arms on said main member, said bracket having a plurality of apertures formed in the flanges, arm and main member, a T shaped secondary member bolted to the main member and impinging a leg of the ladder between itsself and said main member, a boss having a transverse bore therethrough of slightly small diameter than the aperture in the main member, and having an enlarged flange portion on one end, passing through said aperture with the enlarged flange portion within the hollow main memher, and bar passing through the transverse bore in said boss and any of said selected apertures in said flanges and said arms, and adapted to be locked therein, whereby the ladder can be used in various positions by selective engagement of said bar with some of said apertures.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 504,717 Fanckboner Sept. 12, 1893 840,188 Adams Jan. 1, 1907 1,525,515 .Socha Feb. 10, 1925 2,177,677 Staben Oct. 31, 1939 2,327,317 Randall Aug. 17, 1943 

